wilcox



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. sv B. WILGOX.

WASH BENCH. No. 363,104i Patented May 17, 1887..

(Model.) 'Bl WILGOX. 2 sheets-sheet 2.

WASH BENCH.

Patented May 17, 1887..

No. 363,104.b

position.

UNITE artnr rtree.

WASH-BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,104, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed February 8,1586. Sei'ial'll'o. 191,211. (Model.)`

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MONROE WILeoX and Bren WILcoX, citizens of the United States, residing at Cassadaga, in the county of Chain tauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vash- Benches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to imi'irovements in wash-benches, and it consists of the peculiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of the various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of ourinvention is to provide an improved wash-bench with foldable frames for supporting the tubs, which are so constructed and arranged that the pivots are relieved of the weight and strain of the tubs and their contents when the frames are unfolded and adjusted for use, thereby very materially increasing the strength and durability of the apparatus.

A further object of our invention is to pro vide folding frames or benches for the tubs, which shall be retained or held in their folded position against the central frame by frictional contact tlierewith,and dispense with independent fastening devices which require to be manipulated by hand.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a Waslrbench embodying our invention, Figure lis a top plan view of the bench unfolded and adjusted for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. l, showing the tubs in dotted lines on the folding frames orbenches. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal central sectional View on the line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a perspective view of the bench in its folded Fig. 5 is an elevation taken from one end of the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective vien7 of the soap-shelf and its suspending hook.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the eentral self-supporting frame, which comprises the uprights or posts A, arranged parallel with each other, and the transverse rails or bars a2, a3, and a, which are rigidly and firmly secured to the uprights to brace and strengthen them. The uprights of the central frame are recessed on one side to provide vertical eXn tended flanges a5 at their upper ends, to which are secured the transverse rail c, and the rails` (datare secured to the nprights on opposite sides and at different heights, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

B and B designate the folding frames or benches, which are arranged on opposite sides of the central frame, and which fold independentl y of each other. Each of these frames or benches consists of the side rails or bars, b, and the folding legs b2, which are pivoted to the outer or free ends of the side rails, b, as shown. rlhe side rails of the frames or benches are arranged outside of or exterior t the uprights of the central frame, A, and are pivoted ,l

to said upright-s at their inner ends, as at b', and the folding legs b2 for the benches are arranged exterior to the bars b thereof. When the frames or benches are folded for the purpose of storing and transporting the apparatus, the side bars, I), bear against the outer faces of the uprights of the central frame, and the legs b2 are arranged in like manner to the side rails, b-t'. e., against their outer faces. The rails of the benches or frame bind against the central frame, A, and the legs bind against the side bars of the frame or benches, so that the bench and its legs are held in their folded 'position by frictional Contact with the central frame, A, without employing independent fastening devices. The benches fold against the outside faces of the uprights of the central frame, so that the rails and legs lie Wholly within the edges of the uprights, and are thereby protected from injury to a considera ble extent, and by reason of the peculiar arrangement of parts just described the apparatus folds very compactly, so that it takes up but little room, which is very desirable in storing and transporting them.`

The legs b2 of the benches have secured. to them, near their upper ends, transverse rails b3, which connect the two legs of each bench and cause them to move simultaneously. These rails b3 are arranged beneathI the louter free ends of the side rails of the benches when the latter are unfolded, so that the said side rails can bear and rest thereon. The benches B B are pivoted to the central frame, A, at different heights or elevations, so that persons of different heights can use the apparatus very conveniently, and when. the benches are un folded the inner ends of the side rails, b, thereof rest'on the upper edges of one of the rails a2 IOO ` 'or a3, the rail a2 being secured to lthe central frame at the side on which the bench B is arranged, and the rail a3 'on the opposite side of the said central frame to adapt the rails of the bench B to bearor rest thereon. We lay special stress on the peculiar a-rrangement of the bars or rails c2 a3 and to the rails b3 with relation to the folding frames or benches 'and their legs, as by such construction and arrangement the pivots of the benches and their legs are relieved of the weight and strain of the tubs and their contents when the apparatusis in use, thereby greatlyincreasing the rigidity,

5o l This shelf D is arranged between the upper strength, and durability of the same without increasing the cost of manufacturing it.

It will be observed that the folding benches or tub-supports are mere skeleton frames, consisting of parallel side rails, b I), and the transverse connecting-rail b, and it is therefore necessaryto select tubs or like receptacles of a diameter equal -to or greater than the width of the said benches for use thereon, so that the lower edges of `the tubs will rest or bear firmly upon the parallel side bars ofthe benches, as will be very readily understood by reference to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

C designates a swinging reversible deflectoi, which, is pivotally supported on pins c, near the upper ends, and between the standards or uprights of the central frame, A, so that it can be turned or inclined into different positions to direct the water falling thereon from a wringer above into either one or the other ofthe tubs or like receptacles supported on the frames or benches; but we lay no claim herein to the reversible detlector, as we are aware that substantially the same device has been heretofore used for the same purpose.

A wringing apparatus of any approved pattern can be detachabl y connected to the upper transverse rail,a, of the central self-supporting frame, A, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, for the purpose of wringing the clothing or fabrics after they have been washed; but when the fabrics are being washed it is preferred that thewringer shall be replaced by a shelf, lD, which serves to hold the soap used in washing the fabrics, so that there will be no danger of the soap falling into the water in the tub and be thereby wasted, as is very often the case.

ends of the standards of the central frame and in an inclined position, so that its lower edge bears against the transverse rail at, and its opposite or free edge is elevated or held in a higher position, whereby the soap or other article that is placed on the said shelf will not be liable to slip off the shelf and fall accidentally. The shelf is detachably suspended from the rail ai* 'of the central frame by means of a hook or bracket, d, which is bent from a single piece of wire for the purpose of eheapness in the manufacture.

comprises the parallel side arms or bars, d', the

necting the said side arms at the ends opposite The said hook or bracket the prongs, and having its middle depressed below and arranged to one side or out of line with the side arms, to constitute the hook. The prongs enter the inclined shelf at one of the sides thereof to firmly and rigidly'secure the bracket to the shelf, and the hook of the bracket takes over the transverse rail' a4,-

while the side arms bear against the rail a4.

By means of the bracket the shelf can be readily and easily applied to and disconnected from the rail a4 of the central frame, A, and the side arms of the bracket bear against the rail a4, to prevent the shelf from moving vand support it very firmly and steadily in place.

The operation of our invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

We are aware that wash-benches have been heretofore provided `which consist of a selfsupporting standard adapted to receive a wringer, and folding frames hinged to the central standard having swinging legs to fold against the outer rails of the benches, which are held in their folded positions by pivoted catches or other locking devices, as such devices are not new; and hence we confine ourselves to the peculiar arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described our invention, we claiml. The combination of a central frame, the cross-rails a2 a3, affixed thereto on opposite sides, the folding benches or frames pivoted to the central frame, and having their inner ends connected to said frame above the tran-sverse rails thereon, the legs pivoted to`tl1e outer free ends of the folding benches, and the transverse railsl affixed to the legs bcneath the free ends of the benches, whereby the side rails of the benches are adapted to bear and rest on the transverse rails and relieve the pivots of the benches and legs of the weight and strain of the tubs, as set forth.

2. In a portable wash-bench, the combina- 'tion of a central self-supporting frame, A,

provided with the cross rails or bars a2 a on opposite sides, the folding benches arranged on the outside of the central frame and pivoted at their inner ends to the central frame to fold against the outer sides thereof, and the swinging legs carrying a connecting-bar, b3, near their upper ends, and arranged on IOO IIO

the outside of the benches and pivoted thereto to fold against the outer sides of the benches, whereby the benches bind upon the central frame and the legs bind upon the benches when the parts are folded, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signa-tures in presence of two witnesses.

MONROE VILCOX. BIGE W'ILCOX. lVitnesses: f

GHEsTER SIMMoNs, ADEL'BERT WAIT. 

